Not Even a Single Coin?
“The Eoryong-byeon, or Fish-Dragon Transformation, is a cultivation method of the Sea Race. However, it’s also a technique suitable for everyone to learn, especially effective for warriors who have awakened water-attribute Hyeongi. The first stage of Eoryong-byeon is called ‘Golden Carp Swimming Through Waves.’ The principle is to make Hyeongi into a carp and let it swim through the meridians like water. Its core secret is…”
Old Man Hae began lecturing on the core secrets of the Eoryong-byeon from the podium. Most of the students were dozing off as he explained. The lecture Old Man Hae was giving was extremely difficult and abstruse for the other students. It was like teaching quadratic equations to kindergarteners.
However, a few students were listening intently, their eyes shining. Im Seol-geum and Yoon Yeok, among others, seemed to realize how precious the information Old Man Hae was sharing truly was. Although the Hyeongi heart method named Eoryong-byeon was a 3-star cultivation method they couldn't immediately use, listening carefully and remembering it would undoubtedly be of great help later when their cultivation reached a certain level. Therefore, they diligently took notes, absorbing the content.
In fact, Bukjin, too, felt sleepy while listening to Old Man Hae's lecture. But Bukjin couldn't even dare to fall asleep. This was because Old Man Hae was teaching while constantly staring at Bukjin, his gaze never leaving him. It was as if he considered the other students mere air.
A day that felt like a year finally passed, and Bukjin heard the bell signaling the end of class.
“That will be all for today’s lesson,” Old Man Hae said with a smile. “I have already explained the basics of the Golden Carp Swimming Through Waves heart method, the first stage of Eoryong-byeon. Bukjin, train diligently. I will always be watching you. Once you complete the first stage of cultivation, I will immediately teach you the second stage, the ‘Reverse Wave Piercing the Clouds’ heart method.”
After finishing his words, Old Man Hae left the classroom.
“Ugh…” Bukjin clutched his head.
Bukjin was not the studious type. He couldn't understand why he had to endure such hardship. During the class, he had been incredibly sleepy but managed to hold it in. Yet, strangely enough, as soon as class ended, his drowsiness vanished.
Bukjin decided to first check the effects of the Eoryong-byeon heart method. Pulling out his smartphone, he saw the [Eoryong-byeon - Golden Carp Swimming Through Waves] app created in the app store. Bukjin used 10GB of data to download and install the app.
When Bukjin launched the app, a scene of a golden carp leaping out of the water unfolded on the screen. Soon, Bukjin's familiar shadow, drawn in ink wash, appeared. Inside the shadow on the screen, his meridians looked like rivers. And a single golden dot was swimming within the river of those meridians. Bukjin focused his gaze and saw that the golden dot looked like a golden carp, made of Hyeongi, swimming. Its movements were very agile and graceful.
“The speed of Hyeongi flow has at least doubled. Moreover, six more Hyeongi pathways have appeared that I hadn’t felt before. This Eoryong-byeonHyeongi heart method is definitely superior to the Advanced Hyeongi Condensation Art!”
As everyone knew, the most reliable way to determine the excellence of a Hyeongi heart method was to observe the number of meridian pathways through which Hyeongi circulated.
The Advanced Hyeongi Condensation Art allowed Hyeongi to flow through 12 meridian pathways. The first stage of Eoryong-byeon, Golden Carp Swimming Through Waves, could utilize 18 meridian pathways.
After a moment of thought, Bukjin closed the [Advanced Hyeongi Condensation Art] app and immediately deleted it. He also deleted the [Intermediate Hyeongi Condensation Art] app. These two apps were no longer effective for Bukjin.
As Bukjin examined the [Eoryong-byeon - Golden Carp Swimming Through Waves] app, he felt that at this rate, he would soon reach the peak of the 1st Grade Martial Warrior Rank. Reaching the 2nd Grade Martial Warrior Rank was now only a matter of time. And when that happened, he would be able to learn the Reverse Blood Qi Battle Art.
Bukjin was greatly satisfied.
Just then.
“Im Bukjin! Im Bukjin! Come out now! It’s time to entertain Young Lady Baek!”
A familiar voice was heard. The haughty beauty Baek Geum-un was waving her hand in front of the classroom. Instantly, many resentful eyes turned towards Baek Geum-un. The female students of Class 9 looked at Baek Geum-un as if she were their mortal enemy.
‘Why does that girl always come here to tempt our Bukjin?’
‘No! We need to find a way to protect our Bukjin!’
‘Im Bukjin belongs to all the girls in Class 9!’
“Entertain, my ass!”
Bukjin stood up, walked to the classroom door, and with a triumphant smile, raised his hand and flicked Baek Geum-un’s forehead.
“You little Baek brat! Don’t you know your place? How dare you call your senior by his name so casually! Call me Senior Brother Im.”
Baek Geum-un tried to raise her hand to retaliate against Bukjin but was blocked. She pouted and said, “Yes~ yes! I understand! Senior Brother Im! Please hurry and help me with my sword training!”
Bukjin laughed loudly and replied, “From today onwards, I will not do the ‘entertaining’ you speak of. I have money now. That means I no longer need to be servile for money!”
The treasure vault of the evil adventurer group inside the Bukhwang Mountain stone fortress had already been discovered and confiscated by the Unmong-wi. According to the laws of the North Sea Empire, Bukjin was the one who had rendered the greatest service in this matter, so he would receive the largest share of the treasures in the vault.
‘This wretched poverty is finally over! I’m rich now! Baek Geum-un, you cunning little minx! Did you think I’d still be your sword training partner just because I have money? Dream on!’
Bukjin smiled brightly with a triumphant expression, ignoring Baek Geum-un. Baek Geum-un was fuming, grinding her teeth.
‘How can a person be like that?’
As Baek Geum-un was thinking this, another voice was heard.
“Senior Brother Im. Someone’s here for you.”
Bukjin turned around to see a student guiding Jin Geom-nam, a company commander in Unmong-wi armor, approaching from a distance. Bukjin’s eyes lit up.
‘How wonderful! Perfect timing!’
“Student Im. Could we talk for a moment?” Jin Geom-nam said with a solemn demeanor. The area in front of the classroom door was very noisy, implying they should move to a quieter place.
“I want to go too! Me too!” Baek Geum-un exclaimed, jumping up and down. She was one of the people who had experienced the Bukhwang Mountain incident and was well aware of the circumstances, so Jin Geom-nam did not object.
A moment later, the three arrived at a quiet, secluded spot. Jin Geom-nam stood and handed Bukjin a document. The document bore the seals of the City Government, the Education Office, and the Unmong-wi.
“I have some bad news to deliver. Our Unmong-wi indeed discovered two treasure vaults inside the Bukhwang Mountain stone fortress. However, they were already empty, with no valuables remaining. Afterward, the Unmong-wi fortunately captured one of the surviving evil adventurers, and through interrogation, we obtained accurate information. According to him, on the night you attacked and razed the stone fortress, the Great Alliance Leader and others moved all the valuables somewhere else. The whereabouts of those valuables have been unknown ever since.” Jin Geom-nam said.
An expression of shock appeared on Bukjin’s face.
‘W-what does that mean? My, my reward money… it’s all gone?’
“This is a 3rd Grade Citizen’s Medal. It is issued jointly by the City Government, the Education Office, and the Unmong-wi.” Jin Geom-nam handed over a badge in the shape of two crossed black swords.
“This is…? Can I get a discount when buying things if I carry it around?” Bukjin asked.
Jin Geom-nam, with an expression that showed he was already accustomed to Bukjin’s money-grubbing nature, said, “Of course not. It is merely a medal symbolizing honor.”
“Then…” Bukjin thought for a moment and asked again, “If I sell this medal to someone else, will the authorities hold me accountable?”
Jin Geom-nam fell silent. After a moment, Jin Geom-nam spoke slowly, word by word.
“The 3rd Grade Citizen’s Medal symbolizes great honor. With this badge alone, you will receive certain privileges in many aspects, whether you enlist in the military, work for the government, or engage in trade. This medal is exclusive to its owner, and your name is engraved on it. Therefore, it will only be meaningful when you possess it.”
Bukjin said with a despairing expression, “Does that mean… no one will buy this medal, and even if they do, it’ll be useless?”
Jin Geom-nam replied, “Precisely.”
Bukjin sighed deeply and put the medal in his pocket. Bukjin had no intention of enlisting, trading, or engaging in politics, as he believed he would eventually return to Earth. Therefore, the medal was completely useless to Bukjin.
“Is there nothing else?” Bukjin pouted and said, “I defeated so many bandits, but the authorities aren’t giving me any practical or useful reward?”
Jin Geom-nam replied, “No.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“Not even a single coin?”
“No.”
‘Damn it!’ Bukjin was furious. He was starting to hate the North Sea Empire.
Jin Geom-nam spoke again, “That’s because our Unmong City never placed a bounty on the Bukhwang Mountain Evil Adventurer Alliance. Therefore, there can be no other reward money. Furthermore, the impact of this incident is so significant that it cannot be publicly disclosed. Thus, your achievements will only be known to a select few. It will likely remain a secret forever.”
“Does that mean I won’t get any reward money and shouldn’t expect any fame?” Bukjin gritted his teeth and said.
Jin Geom-nam nodded. Seeing the boy Bukjin, who had created a miracle, frowning in anger, Jin Geom-nam spoke again, “It is indeed strange that there was no bounty on the evil adventurers. However, our empire’s current economic situation is not prosperous enough, requiring even more contributions from its citizens, so I hope you understand.”
‘Understand my ass!’ Bukjin shouted inwardly.
“And you would do well to be careful. Behind the Bukhwang Mountain evil adventurers, there is undoubtedly a larger force. They will surely be watching you.” Jin Geom-nam subtly warned Bukjin.
After finishing his words, Jin Geom-nam left.